New York Jets: 5 Reasons Why They Won't Win AFC East In 2014

New York Jets: 5 Reasons Why They Won't Win the AFC East in 2014

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The New York Jets went 8-8 in 2013 and finished third in the AFC. They were 6-2 at home, 2-6 on the road and 3-3 in the division. After somehow making it to two straight AFC Championship games in 2009 and 2010, the Jets missed the playoffs the next three seasons. Jets fans can scream J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets! all they want, but here are five reasons why the Jets will fail to win the AFC East in 2014.

5. Rex Ryan

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5. Rex Ryan

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Rex has a pretty good defensive mind and is actually kind of funny and likable, even if you’re a Patriots fan. He also coached the Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship games in 2009 and 2010. In the next three seasons under Ryan, however, the Jets haven’t finished better than 8-8 (2011 and 2013) and went 6-10 in 2012. Rex just might not be the right guy in New York.

4. The New England Patriots

Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

4. The New England Patriots

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Under Bill Belichick, the Patriots have missed the playoffs just three times since 2000. The Patriots have gone at least 12-4 in each of the last four seasons, and 2014 will be the same. The Jets will most likely finish around 9-7 again, which will not be good enough to win the division over the Patriots, who will get to double-digit wins.

3. The Rest of the AFC East

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3. The Rest of the AFC East

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

It’s the Patriots’ division to lose, but the rest of the teams in the AFC East are pretty evenly matched. The Jets can’t assume that all division games are easy wins. They only went 3-3 in the division last season, including a season split with the Patriots.

2. Edge Pass Rush

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2. Edge Pass Rush

Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports

The Jets’ defensive line is young and talented, but they do not really have a pass rusher who can disrupt opposing quarterbacks. It appears that LB Antwan Barnes won’t be fully recovered from an ACL injury in time for training camp. The Jets drafted two outside LBs late in the draft in Ik Enemkpali and Trevor Reilly, and they have Calvin Pace, but can the team really count on two late-round rookies and a 33-year-old linebacker?

1. Quarterback

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1. Quarterback

Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

Mark Sanchez didn’t work out in New York, and now the Jets are hoping that Geno Smith (or maybe Michael Vick) will lead them to an AFC title and the playoffs. That won’t happen. In 2013, Smith threw 12 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. That’s not the TD/INT ratio a QB should have. This is a passing league, so it’s difficult to win without a good QB, and the Jets do not have a QB who is ready to win consistently in the NFL.